A Short-Term Trip on Our Long-Term Mission Field
I did go on a couple of short-term mission trips overseas when I was in my 40s. I didn't go on them because I thought I would make a huge impact on the people I came in contact with. I went on these two trips because I saw the amazing, miraculous impact similar trips had made on others who had gone before me. These friends went on a mission trip and came back, and their lives were never the same. They had an experience that transformed their view of God and their view of work. I wanted to experience this myself, so I went on a mission trip to the jungles of the Dominican Republic.
For several days in the Dominican Republic, I walked alongside business leaders, business owners, and everyday workers, who knew they wanted more out of life, but they also knew that there were people who had a whole lot less than them. What I saw happen on the mission field of the Dominican Republic, in little villages spread across the country, was a paradigm shift for these business owners, leaders, and everyday workers, where they saw and now understood that they had very much. They saw that they had been very blessed and yet very discontent. They witnessed a people who lived out contentment in barrel-sized ways. The Dominican people are extraordinarily gracious, grateful, and content. They may not have many earthly possessions, but they did have a strong faith and contentment. These businesspeople returned home to make huge impacts in their industries, their companies, their neighborhoods, and their churches. They learned on the mission field that God was way bigger than they ever allowed him to be in their lives.
Now it’s our turn. Are you ready for a short-term mission trip? Martha and I invite you to a short-term mission trip with us. Along with Mike Henry from Follower of One, Martha and I will go on a two-week experience. We will be prepping ourselves the first week before going to our workplace mission field. The second week will be a collaboration with workplace believers from all across the country, sharing their experiences as they live out their faith at work, some for the very first time. What are some of the things we will focus on during this two-week highly focused marketplace mission trip? We will focus on learning to love and appreciate those we work alongside. We are going to learn how to serve them over and above what our job requires us to do. We're going to learn to befriend them outside of the workplace. We're going to learn how to pray for people and look for ways to pray with them. We're also going to learn that excellence defines our work, because if it doesn't, people aren't interested in hearing what we have to say.
Mike Henry developed these Marketplace Mission Trips because he saw many people preparing to go overseas on a short-term mission trip. He saw people preparing for an entire year to go on a one or two-week trip, and he realized that most people never spend an entire year preparing for work, their ministry place and mission field.
You and me, we've been called to our workplaces on purpose for a purpose, and we've been gifted with a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities. The job that we hold, the work that we do, and the people that we work with – none of that is by chance. The people that we work with need to meet Jesus, and you may be their only chance. Join Martha and me on a November iWork4Him – Follower of One Marketplace Mission Trip. Watch the Lord of Heaven and Earth transform your mind into recognizing your workplace as your mission field and teaching you how to prepare your heart, mind, soul, and strength for that mission field where you go each and every day. See you in November!
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About the Author, Jim Brangenberg
Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!